Glass-working machine.



PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

I. W. GOLBURN.

GLASS WORKING MAGHINB.

AP1LIATION FILED HAB. 3. 1903.

4 SHEETS-BHEBT l.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

I. W. COLBURN. GLASS W APPLIOAT N0 MODEL.

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ORKING MACHINE.

10N FILED M.AR.3.19|]3` 4 SHBBTS-SHEET 2.

No. 766,932; i Y PATENTBD AUG. 9, 1904. I..W.. COLBURN.

GLASS WURKING MACHINE.

APPLwA'HoN rum) mn. s, 1903. No nonni.. 4 fsnnE'rs-SHEET a.

@wh/f f; M7, MM,

NO MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. I. W. COLBURN. GLASS WORKING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAE. 3. 1903.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 4,

M, JMW

llETTTEn STaTEs Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT EETCE.

GLASS-WQWKING lVlACl-mlllhll..

BPEGFJICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 766,932, dated August 9, 1904.

Application led March 3, 1903. Serial No. 145,876. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, IRVING NY. (loLnURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county ofVenango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Glass-lorking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel means or apparatus for producing articles of glass.

rlhe object is to furnish amachine that will manufacture cylinders of glass of large size and brilliant surface adapted to be cut olf at the ends, slit open, and flattened out into sheets suitable for window-glass.

The machine is also adapted to the formation of cylindrical and spherical receptacles of large size after suitable manipulation.

l'n the drawings forming a part of this specilication, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 1s an elevation, partly in section, showing certain partsturned from the horizontal position of Fig. 1 to a vertical position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. Liis a plan view. Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the upper head. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the upper head and plunger. Fig. is an end elevation, partly in section, taken on line C l) of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the rotary spindle and air connection.

Referring to said drawings, 1 and 2 are the two side vmain-frame uprights or supports of the machine, preferably .iliade of flanged castings for strength combined with lightness. These frame-castings are preferably supported on a masonry-base and are held together by through-bolts 103, also bolt 106, which, besides bracing the main frame, has the additional function of forming a stop for the pivoted cradle-frame 3 when in the horizontal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) the bracket 10-7 on the cradle forming a stop-rest. Said main frame-castings also support the pivoted cradleframe, and for this purpose the hubs 111 112 are provided at the top of said frames, preferably cast integral therewith. rlhese hubs are properly bored, and bushings 69 7 0 are fitted tightly therein. The cradle-friune swings upon these bushings as a pivot, and through the bushings pass eoncentrically the revoluble shafts 3a 35, described below. The cradle-frame carries a head-stock ll, with its various mechanisms, a carriage 6 for the mold 7, and a movable tail-stock 5, carrying' the mechanisms hereinafter described. Besides the cradle-frzune and the shafting above mentioned the said main frames carry the attached brackets 2f 20 27 2.8, which form bearings for revolublc shafts 22 23. Shaft 22 carries bevelgear 30, which meshes with bevel-gear 32 on shaft 85. Shaft 23 carries bevel-gear 3l, which meshes with bevel-gear 33 on shaft 34. At the inner extremities of shafts 34 are the bevelgearsli 37, which mesh with bevel-gears, hereinafter to be described, borne on the pivoted cradle-frame and actuating' the shafting and connected mechanism carried by the head and tail stocks et and 5, mounted on said cradleframe. The frames 1 and 2 also carry the main revoluble shafts 13 and 1-1. Upon shaft 13 is mounted the motor-pulley 15, which receives motion from some prime source of power and communicates it to pulley 16 on same shaft 13, which connected by band 95 with pulley 17 on shaft 14. The shaft la has at its extremities sleeved frictional disks 18 19, revolubly mounted in bearings in frames 1 and i2 to rotate with shaft 1-1, being splined to the latter, so as to have longitudinal motion independent of the same while compelled to rotate with it. the disks, are forced outward by springs 110, surrounding the shaft lelncar the bearings,

abutting' against the extremities of the sleeves l outwardly and against collars 109 inwardly, said collars being adjustably secured upon the shaft 141 and both collars and springs being protected by housings 108, borne on shaft 111 movably, so as to permit access to the said collars and springs for purposes o f adjustment. The object of the springpressure on the 'sleeved disks 1S 19 is to give them the requisite frictional adhesion to disks 20 21 in running' contact therewith, the latter being mounted on revolublc shafts 22 2B, which run in in-eferably antifrictional bearings in brackets 29 26 27 28, before mentioned. The purpose of the frictional gears is to furnish a variable The sleeves, which are integral with speed to shafts 22 23 and connected gears, varying-.from zero to the maximum positive and maximum negative revolutions required. To obtain this variable speed under control, the disks 2O 21 are splined upon shafts 22 23, so as to have longitudinal motion independent of the same while compelled to rotate with said shafts. To secure said longitudinal motion, the hubs of said disks are grooved and sleeves 24 25, surrounding the shafts 22 23, engage with said grooves by pins or other suitable means. The sleeves are provided with racks 61, which are engaged by pinions 58 59 on shafts 68 and 65, respectively, by which said racks are moved up and down at will by means of hand-wheels 62, 63, and 64 on said shafts, shaft 65 being provided with two handwheels, one on each side of the machine.

The pivoted cradle-frame 3, which is moved by means of handles 121 to a vertical or hori- Zontal position, as desired, contains the mechanisms which control the various movements of the tail-stock, the rotating heads, the rotary spindle, and plunger, &c., which willnow be described. The tail-stock is counterbalanced when the cradle-frame is in the vertical position by weight 119, suspended by rope 118, attached to the tail-stock and passing over pulleys 116 and 117, sustained by pulleyshafts 114 and 115, respectively. The movements of the tail-stock are governed by shaft 22 on the right, Fig. 3, through bevel-gear 32 and driving bevel-gear 37 in mesh with gear 39, which is fast on screw 41. The variablespeed gear 2O governs the speed of revolution of the screw, so that the tail-stock can be moved at any desired speed in either direction, being' in engagement with said screw or not at will by means of the half-nut 77 in bracket 78, controlled by lever system 75 76. As shown in Fig. 1, the half-nut is in engagement, and the tail-stock would be traveling when shaft 14 is in rotation. The tail-stock 5 can, however, at all times be moved or adjusted by hand when out of engagement with the screw by means of handles 120 provided.

The tail-stock carries the rotary hollow spindle 9, plunger 10, and upper holding-head 11, the rotary movements of which are governed by variable-speed gear 21 on shaft 23, as follows: Bevel-gear 31, in mesh with gear 33, rotates gear 36, in mesh with bevel-gear 38, which is fast to spur-gear 43, Fig. 4, but free on shaft 40, with which, however, it can be thrown into engagement at will by means of the clutch member 42. Said spur-gear 43 drives 44, fast on shaft 45, Fig. 4, on which is splined gear 54, Figs. 2 and 7, in mesh with idler-gear 55 on shaft 99, which in turn .is in mesh with idler-gear 56 on shaft 100, intermeshing with gear 57, splined upon revoluble spindle 9, which it rotates. The tailstocl; 5 also carries the sleeve 53, through which the spindle 9 passes and to which is attached the upper holding-head 11. Said head and sleeve are rotated, by means of gear 48, mounted on said sleeve, through a train of gears 47 46, the latter splined on shaft 40, Fig.f7. The same shaft 40 actuates a train of gears in head-stock 4#viz., 49, idler 50, and gear 51, the latter splined on spindle 8, carrying the lower holding-head 52. These holding-heads thus rotate in unison when motion is imparted to them by means of clutch member 42, which brings shaft 40 into rotation derived from variable-speed shaft 23. Said clutch member is operated by means of clutch-fork 90, Fig. '2, pivoted at 91 and manipulated by a lever 92, Fig. 1. The spindle and plunger thus rotate at dilierent speeds from and independently of the rotative heads,

though deriving motion from the same source. i

The position of lower holding-head 52 relative to the mold is determined by adjustable collars 96 96. The mold 7, borne on carriage 6, is adjusted in position by hand-Wheel 86 and shaft 87, the latter carrying ya pinion88, in mesh with fixed rack 89.

The spindle 9, connected with vthe upper holding-head, is tubular throughout its entire length and terminates below the head 11 in the plunger 10. This plunger is perforated with air-holes 125 for supplying air tothe hollow glass cylinder in' process of formation. This air-supply is furnished fromr an outside source under compression through pipe 79, air-regulating valve 80, iexible tube 12, nipple 85, rotative collar 81, air-groove 124, and apertures 83, connecting with tubular passage 82 in spindle. 84 is the cap closing the end of hollow spindle 9. rlhe holding-heads are detachable from their respective spindles in order to remove the glass product. The means is shown enlarged in Figs. 5 and 6. A slotted hub 105 on the holding-head has projecting ledges 104, which fit into flattened grooves 127 formed in the spindle end. A clamp-screw 126 confines the hub in place on the spindle. The holding-heads are roughened or corrugated on their inner faces to give holding and sealing power when applied to the yplastic glass, so as to cause the cylinder to rotateand to prevent the escape of the inclosed air. Pins or headed projections 73 are also employed for the same purpose, and these devices may be of any shape or design which is found efficient for the purpose. Perforations, recesses, and channels are also a full equivaent.

Operation: Suppose the machine at rest with the cradle-frame 3 in the position shown-in Fig. 1. Power is applied to motor-pulley 15 and shaft 13. The cradle-frame is now placed in the position shown in Fig'. 2. Themoldcarriage 6 and mold 7 are brought tothe position shown in Fig. 2, the tail-stock 5 and its supported parts still occupying the position shown in Fig. 1 or thereabout. rl`he plunger 10 is in rotation, the top and bottom holdingheads 11 and 52 are at rest, the clutch mem- IOO 'item2 ber42, Figs. 2 and 4, being' still disengaged from'its corresponding member. lhe screw 4l is in rotation through its train connection with rotating shaft 14; but as the half-nut 77 is out ofmesh with it the tail-stock 5 remains stationary, counterbalanced by weight 11S). The lower holding-head 52 occupies the position relative to the mold shown in Fig'. 2. Melted glass is now broug'ht to the machine by any of the appliances usually employed for handling plastic g'lass from glass-furnaces and a suilicient charge is iiowed into mold 7. The hot glass adheres' to the roughened or corrugated face of lower holding-head 52, which by reason of its thinness soon reaches a high temperature, butthe mold being' more massive is not so readily heated to the hig'h temperature of the molten charge and the inner walls being smooth and polished no adhesion occurs. The tail-stock 5 is now lowered by hand until the plunger 10, all the time in rotation, passes down through the charg'e of molten glass in the mold, leaving but a thin pellicle of glass between it and the lower .holding-head, and the stationary upper holding-head 1l beds its roughened or corrugated -lace `in the plastic glass, quickly uniting itself thereto. As soon as firm adhesion of the lower and upper holding-heads has been secured both are set in rotation simultaneously and. at the same rate by means of lever 92, throwing clutch member 42 andv setting' shaft 4() in rotation with its connected gears, carrying with them the mass of plastic glass. In practice the holding'jheads are first artilicially heated to a darli-redheat to insure the propel' adhesion of the plastic glass, and they may be further prepared byan application of molten glass to the roughened or corrugated faces in amanner analogous to the preparationof punties in hand glass-blowing for iire-linishing. The mold is also slightly heated at iirst to avoid chilling` the charge-too much, but needs no further heating` and, in fact, as the worli. progresses will require to be artilicially cooledto avoid danger of adhesion to the casting'. kThe holding-heads require reheating for each operation. The high speed of rotation of the plunger in excess of that of the rotating' heads prevents adhesion to the plastic charge, although fully exposed to the high temperature thereof, and this rotation by a simple change of gearing' may be opposite to that of the rotating glass and be fully within the scope of the present invention. The cradle-frame is now returned `to a horizontal position by hand. The mold is moved back toward head-stock 4 and oli' from the rotating mass of g'lass by means of the hand-wheel 86, pinion 88, and rack 89. `(loi'nl'nessed air is now admitted to the interior of the mass of rotating glass in graduated measure by means of` the air-valve 80, and simultaneously the tail-stock 5 is started on its outward travel by means of the handle '75, actuating' half-nut 77 and bringing it into engagement with ro tating' screw 41. The speed of travel of the tail-stock and rotating' head Ill is carefully controlled by means of hand-wheel 62, operating' the variabl i O'ear 20. This travel gradually elong'ates the rotating' cylinder of plastic glass, while at the saine time the admission of compressed air expands the saine diametrically, enlarging the volume of the cylinder in all directions, thinning its walls and stretching them equally in all directions, whereby a brilliant surface inside and outside is imparted thereto. The expanding' cylinder `of glass is prevented from sagging and deformation under the influence of gravity by the graduated rate of rotation imparted to it by its holding-heads. These several correlated movements are throug'h out the operation thoroughly under the control of the skilled operator by the agency of the hand-wheels, which regulate the variable-speed gears, the air-valve 80, and the clutch-lever 92. iV hen the cylinder of g'lass reaches the desired dimensions and is sutilciently cool, the operation can be instantly stopped by these agencies and the cylinder removed from the machine by detaching the holding-heads from their respective fastenings. The holding-heads are detached from the glass by means familiar to the art of glassworling. The same is true regarding the slitting and I'iattening of the glass cylinder when it is desired to convert it into a flat sheet of window-glass- By this machine much larger masses can be manipulated than in the art of cylinder-glass blowing by manual skill, and consequently larger sheets can be obtained with all the perfection and uniformity due to the aid of machine processes. The magnitude of output and consequent economy of manufacture is one of the signal advantagesmgained by this as `in most other successful substitutions of machine for hand processes, and the uniform stretching of the g'lass surface in all directions during' the process gives a brilliancy and luster, vieing with that obtained by the more expensive methods hitherto employed for making glass in large sheets.

l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- l. A mold for plastic glass, pivotally mounted, wherebysaid mold may be swung' from a vertical toa horizontal position,when charged with plastic glass, means for removing' the mold froln the charge, and means for simul taneously expanding' and stretching the plastic glass while in the horizontal position.

2. A bottomless cylindrical moldfor plastic glass, two rotary disk-shaped holding-heads :formed on their contacting faces for making secure adhesion to the plastic mass of glass at its ends, whereby the same may be stretched and rotated, means for removing the mold` lengthwise from the glass, while the latter is held by the holding-heads, and means' for IOO IlO

simultaneously stretching, rotating and expanding the plastic glass while in the horizontal position.

3. A bottomless cylindrical mold, diskshaped holding-heads for plastic glass revolubly mounted at each end of said mold, and

Y means for permitting one of said holdingheads to be brought-into forcible contact with the plastic g'lass in the mold, said holdingheads being formed on their contacting faces to make adhesion to the plastic glass.

4i. A bottomless cylindrical mold, diskshaped adhesive holding-heads for plastic g'lass facing the mold at both its open ends, means for forcibly causing' adhesion between said holding-heads and the plastic glass, a movable hollow plunger perforated near its terminus, axially located with reference to the mold, and means for advancing the plunger centrally through the Vplastic mass of glass while held between said holding-heads.

5. A bottomless cylindrical mold, rotatory holding-heads for plastic glass, in axial alinement, projecting into the open ends of said mold, one of which is movable lengthwise, a movable hollow rotatory plunger axially located with reference to the mold and holding heads, perforated near its terminus, means for independently rotating said plunger, means for admitting air through the plunger, and means for thrusting the plunger centrally through the plastic glass in the mold, down to the opposite holding-head, leaving a thin pellicle of nndisplaced glass between it and said opposite holding-head.

6. Two disk-shaped holding-heads for plastic glass having adhesively-formed contacting faces, means for rotating the same in unison, a bottomless cylindrical mold between said heads, means for advancing and retracting one of the said holding-heads while both are in rotation, a hollow spindle axially alined with reference to the movable holding-head and the mold, a plunger within said spindle, and means for rotating said spindle and plunger independently of the heads and at relatively different speeds.

7 A bottomless cylindrical mold for casting a cylinder of plastic glass, disk-shaped holding-heads formed for making' secure Contact with said glass at both ends thereof, means for rotating said cylinder and adhering holding-heads in unison, a hollow perforated movable plunger, means for forcing said plunger centrally into the plastic cylinder of glass while rotating, means for rotating said plunger independently of the rotatory heads at relatively different speeds, means for separating said heads, and means for introducing compressed air in regulated quantity through said plunger within said rotating cylinder of glass, whereby the latter is expanded and thinned in its walls, while in rotation.

8. A means for casting a cylinder of plastic glass in a vertical position, disk-shaped holding-heads formed for making secure contact with said glass, at both ends, axially alined, means for rotating said heads and cylinder in unison, means for turning said heads and cylinder to a horizontal position while rotating, means for separating said heads at graduated speed while rotating, whereby the cylinder is stretched and extended, and means for introducing compressed air within the plastic cylinder in graduated quantity while rotating in the horizontal position, whereby the cylinder is expanded and thinned in its walls while being extended.

9. A rotatory spindle, and a holding-head for plastic glass removably secured thereto, said holding-head'being formed of a thin metallic plate suitably roug'hened and prepared on its contacting' face for obtaining secure adhesion to the plastic-glass casting' to which it is to be applied.

l0. A driving-shaft, iixed bearings for the same sleeved frictional disks on the ends 0f said shaft, outside the bearings, means to press said disks outward on the shaft while rotating, vertically-placed rotatory shafts outside said frictional disks, edge-contact disks splined on said vertical shafts, means for moving said edge-contact disks up and down across the face of the sleeved disks while both are in rotation, whereby variable speed is'produced in said vertical rotatory shafts at will, means for rotating the plastic glass, gears and shafting' connecting one of said variable-speed mechanisms with the mechanism for rotating the plastic glass, and separate gears and shafting connecting the other variable-speed mechanism with the mechanism for stretching the plastic glass while in rotation.

ll. Two rotatory disk-shaped holding-heads for plastic glass in axial alinement, means for rotating' the same in unison, a bottomless cylindrical mold in axial alinement with said rotatory heads, of a diameter to tit the same, a carriage for said mold, and means for moving' said carriage and mold parallel to the axis of the rotatory heads, whereby said mold may be withdrawn lengthwise from the casting to permit the same to' be expanded.

l2. Two rotatory holding-heads for plastic glass, in axial alinement, means for rotating the same, a driving-shaft, a variable-speed gear, a hand-wheel, with mechanism for controlling the variable-speed gear, and a system of gears and shafting between said variablespeed gear and said rotary holding-heads, whereby the latter are rotated in unison and at variable reg'ulated speeds under control of the operator.

13. A pivoted cradle-frame, two rotatory holding-heads for plastic g'lass, in axial alinement, mounted on said frame, a rotatory shaft concentric with the pivot of said `frame, gears on the ends of said shaft, a variable-speed gear in engagement with the outer gear of said shaft, means for controlling said variable- TOO IIO

ISOl

speed gear, a train olifgears and shaliting between the inner gear on said shaft and said rotatory heads, whereby the latter are rotated in unison and at variable regulated speeds, while peri'nitting,oscillattny movement ot' the cradle-iframe, and a clutch Al'or connecting and disconnecting said gear-train to control the period or' rotation of the holding-heads and plastic glass held by them.

14. Two rotatory holding-heads for plastic glass,in axial alinement, a driving-Shatnertrictional variable-speed gear actuated by said driving-shaft, a hand-wheel and mechanism for controlling said vari able-speed g'ear, a movable tail-stock carrying' one of said hold ingheads, a rotary screw connected by gearing with said variable-speed gear, means Afor connecting and disconnecting said screw with said movable tail-stock, whereby the movements of the latter and its holding-head are controlled and regulated to stretch the plastic glass while rotating', and means for rotating said liiolding-heads in unison and at variable and regulated speeds simultaneously with the stretching' operation.

l5. Two rotatory disk-shaped holding-heads for plastic glass, in axial alinement, means 4for rotating said holding-heads in unison, a bottomless cylindrical mold between said holding-heads, a hollow plunger in axial alinement with said holding-heads, means for longitudinally advancing' said plunger, means `for rotating said plunger independently of the 1'0- tating heads, means lor introducing compressed air in graduated measure through the plunger, means for removingthe mold lengthwise Afrom the glass casting while the latter is rotating between the holding-heads,and means for separating' the holding-heads at graduated speed while in rotation with the cast ot plastic glass, simultaneously with the introduction of compressed air within the casting through the plunger, whereby the plastic casting is simultaneousl y extended, expanded, and thinned in its walls while in rotation between the rotating' holding-heads, substantially as specilied. A

16. A main trame, a pivoted cradle-frame, two rotatory holding-heads for plastic glass borne on said cradle-tram e, in axial alinement, means for rotating said holding-heads in unison, a bottomless cylindrical mold between said holding-heads,a rotatory hollow spindle in axial alinement with said lgiolding-heads, a per- Jorated hollow plunger on the end oi' said spindle, means `for longitudinally moving said spindle and plunger, means for rotating said spindle and plunger independently ot' the rotating' heads, means for introducing compressed air in graduated measure through said spindle and plunger, means for removing the mold lengthwise from the casting, and means ft'or separating the holding-heads at graduated speed while rotating with the plastic glass cast in the mold, simultaneously with the introduction o'lI compressed air within the casting through the plunger, whereby the plastic castingis simultaneously extended, expanded, and

thinned in its walls while in rotation between the holding-heads, substantially as specilied.

17. A main trame, a cradle-iframe.pivoted thereon, a head-stock stationary on said cradle-iframe, a tail-stock movable on said cradleframe, a mold-carriage and mold movable on said cradle-iframe, a rotary spindle mounted on said head-stock, with means ior rotating' the same, a holding-head on said head-stock spindle, a tubular rotary spindle mounted on the tail-stock in axial alinement with said head-stock spindle, with means for rotating the same, a holding-head concentric with said tubular spindle, a perforated plunger on the end of said tubular spindle, means for introducing air under compression in graduated measure through said tubular spindle and perforated plunger while rotating, and means ilor moving said tail-stock with its spindle and holding-head at variable speed away from said head-stock and its holding-head while theholding-heads are rotating, substantially as specilied. y

18. A main iframe, a cradle-frame pivoted on said iframe, a stationary head-stock on said crzulle-trame, a rotary spindle on said headstock, a holding-head on said spindle, a movable tail-stock on said cradle-.trama a rotary sleeve on said tail-stock, a holding-head on said sleeve, a tubular rotary spindle passing axially through said sleeve, in axial alinement with thehead-stock spindle, a perforated plunger on the end ot said tubular spindle, a means for introducing compressed air in graduated measure through said tubular spindle and plunger while rotating, a variable-speed gear for moving the tail-stock back and forth at will, a means for connecting' and disconnecting the movable tail-stock with the `variablespeed gear at will, a variable-speed gear for rotating' the holding-heads in unisoma means for connecting' and discormecting the rotative holding-head mechanisms with the said variable-speedgear at will, an independent geartrain borne on the movable tail-stock for rotating the tubular spindle and plunger independently of the rotative holding-heads, in gear connection with the said variable-speed gear for moving' said tail-stock, a mold-carriage on the cradle-frame, and means for moving said mold-carriage baci( and forth in lines parallel with the rotary spindles, substantially as specified,

19. A pivoted cradle frame, a revoluble spindle on said trame, a holding-head for plastic glass detachably held on said spindle, a revo'luble sleeve longitudinally movable on said frame, in alinement with said spindle, aholding-head 'lor plastic glass detachably held on said sleeve, a hollow spindle with perforated lextremity concentrically held within said sleeve, independently revoluble therein, means IOO IIO

ISO

for revolving said holding-heads in unison, l to this specification in presence of two witincans for introducing' compressed air through messes.

the rotary hollow spindle, L cylindrical open Y ended mold between said rovoluble holding- IRVING V" (JOLBURN 5 heads, and moans forlnovingtho mold iength- /Vitnesses:

FRED D. OILER, ROBT. F. GLENN.

wise, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereol I have signed my name 

